Better Safe Than Sorry

After reading "Yale Student Speaks Out On Ebola Quarantine" [Oct. 28, courant.com], which discussed how a Yale student was upset about the tight quarantine order he was under after coming back from from Liberia, I became outraged. Even though he had tested negative for the disease does not mean that it will never manifest.

The student, Ryan Boyko, went into the hospital when he developed a fever four days after he came back from Liberia. Even though those tests all came back negative does not mean he can't develop the disease. According to the CDC website, symptoms of Ebola can appear anywhere from eight to 10 days after exposure. What if he has more symptoms after his negative test?

I understand is restrictive for a student to have to be confined to an apartment while school is ongoing and I understand his frustration at the situation that people are now rethinking going over to help West Africa.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures website, it is the state and local governments' responsibility to maintain public health and control the spread of disease within a state's borders. As a resident of Connecticut, I refuse to let my family and friends, or anyone else for that matter, be at risk for this deadly disease.

If that means that this Yale student and any other traveler from West Africa spend 21 days in quarantine then so be it. Better safe than sorry.